Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-15
ANEWSROYS NERVE.
GlinGing TO the Rope Of an Escaped
Balloon for Fifty Miles.

A recent trip OF q scientific party IN
d falcon recalls to memory the thrill
ng adventure of San Francisco
ACwshOv who took an involuntary ex-
,uIsiCn in balloon from Oakland to
,uisun Plains. Like that of the scien-
sic party the ascension was unherald-
I'd. But il was alike the town talk and
lie excitement Of the hour.
Balloon asceusiOns were Of rare Oc-
turrence. and the announcement that
Il large balloon was to go NJ from a
garden in Oakland was sufficient TO
iill three steamer loads OF excursion
ISIS from San Francisco. 1t was an
exceptionally pleasant Sunday after
noon in August, and a Mr.. Kelly was
to act as the aeronaut. Numerous
small balloons had as usual been pro
vidcd to test tie current OF air, and 10
indicate the probable direction the bal
loon would take upon being set free.
The balloon itself was fine. large
one, constructed of silk, with the
usual basket attached for carrying
passengers.
Either Kelly was incompetent, the
volume of gas insufficient, or for some
other, and to the crowd unknown, cause
tie balloon did not ascend when Kelly
seated himself in the suspended car and
gave the signal to cut the rope that fas-
,oned the balloon to the earth. Instead
81 going upward it drifted along the
around for some fifty yards, when it was
again secured, and Kelly jumped to the
Ground. 4 lighter man then took hi,
place, hut 1t would not rise with
him either. The car was then de-
tached from the balloon and piece
of broad scantling attached to it
some four inches in width, resembling
a trapeze bar. The people in the mean
time were jeering the professor in "a
good-naturcd way, and several asked
him to give them ride, prcsuming
That they would be taken few yards
cnly.
EEDDY TAXES A RIDE.
Among them was a bright lad OF six
teen, though looking much younger.
Re was "a newshoy and orange-peddler,
vel known i'll San Francisco for his
quick wit, brilliant shock OF intense
hair, and prcdisposition for mischief.
Hc was a thin, wiry little fellow, and
known by his comradesas " Reddy.'
tither Of his own motion or at the
careless suggestion of some thought
less person, Ready jumped astraddle
If the suspended scantling and handed
his basket of oranges to his partner.
Some one sung out. "Let her go "
and up she went, to the conservation
Of everybody that knew it was an acci-
dent. The boys legs were suspended
in the air, and his weight depressed
the hoop to which the bar was attached,
throwing his back against the ropes Of
the balloon. the ropes being only one
quarter of an inch in circumference.
IS the boy arose Professor Kelly
cried out to "pull the va ye-rope when
he wished to come down" But the
valye-rope had caught in the balloon
netting and was not to be reached. He
assembled rapidly for some forty feet,
when current Of air turned the bal
loon in a southwt sterly direction, and,
clinging 20 the ropes, he was carried
across an arm of the bay to the south
OF Oakland. He then rose to an im-
mcnsc height.
Professor Kelly mounted fleet horse
and Cndeayored TO follow the course OF
the balloon in vain. 1t wssseen through
glass to be drifting over the crest Of
mountain, but whether the boy still
maintained his grip on the ropes or not
was uncertain. The course OF the yoy-
age was now turned in northeasterly
direction. in half an hour from the
start the balloon was lost to view, and
there were no hopes of the boy S safety.
Death stared him in the face. If he
was not dashed to earth he would go
up until be reached great height,
when the rarefaction OF the air would
destroy him. Another danger awaited
Linn. He was thinly. clad aud would
soon become bcnumbed aud frozen, re-
lax his bold and fall to the earth.
RFDDY's THRILLING ExPERrEScE,
Red6y said, in relating his expe.
rience, that he "was dizzy at first in,l
slut his eyes, but thought he must
brace up. as lie was in for ii, and do
the hest he could." He saw n panorama
Of The city. lie heard people shout,
inc orders from below, but could
not distinguish their commands.
He was conscious OF his position
by the changing of the location OF
objects below him. He claimed
never TO have lost his presence
of mind. He pulled, be thinks, at
the yalve-rope, but it broke in his hand,
and the end drifted from him. Dc
looked down and saw a rough country
below. end thought he would not Ike
TO land there, for fear of grizzlies and
the additional dread Of getting into
some deep canyon that he would be
unable to find his way out OF.
II was getting along toward DARK
and a more level country. The boy